[joconde]

I like the spirit and want to :), but my life has been stressful in the last few years, so I'd like to delay the jump. I value stability and staying close to my current friends in the short-term.

Unless there are significant opportunities I'd be missing out on by not leaving right now. That's why I asked.

[electriclove]

The stress only increases in the next stages of life (spouse, mortgage, kids).

[askonomm]

Spouses work these days and more and more people choose not to have kids, optimizing for _their_ life quality rather than someone elses. So I wouldn't say that stress only increases. Stress only increases if you want the stress, otherwise I'd say stress decreases and a person has more and more savings, can afford better life quality, etc.

[joconde]

It's been decreasing so far, with financial safety, a saner schedule (no more absurd school deadlines for subjects I don't even care about), and more freedom of movement (one gets pretty isolated with no car in my area).

I expect it to keep getting better.